The highly-anticipated Apple iPhone 5S was finally released this week to much media fanfare. And while there were hardly any features that the rumor mills hadn’t already leaked, one somewhat unexpected highlight was the addition of the M7 coprocessor. M7 works alongside the main A7 processor on the iPhone and analyzes motion data from the gyroscope, accelerometer, and compass in the iPhone independently, which, according to Apple, can save on battery life. Combined with the forthcoming iOS 7 release, the iPhone 5S will be able to detect if you’re stationary, walking, running, or driving, and will respond accordingly. During the iPhone 5S’s introduction, Phil Schiller, SVP of Worldwide Marketing for Apple, said that you’ll see “a whole new level of health and fitness solutions never before possible on a mobile phone”.
Using the iPhone’s movement sensors to track your fitness is nothing new, as Nike and other companies have apps that utilize GPS and an accelerometer. However, it’ll be interesting to see how developers take advantage of the separate processing unit to turn the iPhone into an even smarter health and fitness device. Not surprisingly, it was also announced that Nike is already developing an app called Nike+ Move that utilizes the power of the M7 coprocessor to help athletes stay motivated and active during the day.
From Apple.com: iPhone 5S Features…